Capturing Her Damaged Heart

by mushi9

A deadly disease plagues the world. People are dying, the dead are rising. The infection spreads too fast to stop. Everyone tries their best to survive in this post-apocalyptic world, but things get messy for Natsu when he finds a blonde woman on one of his missions. Natsu takes it upon himself to help her, protect her, and accidentally fall in love with her? Zombie Apocalypse AU.

4. Fairy Tail

*Chapter Four: Fairy Tail

(October 4th, 2017, Wednesday Afternoon)

Natsu loaded another trash bag full of stuff into his truck. The bed was full, so he used the backseat for everything else he couldn't fit. He found out quickly Lucy wasn't able to lift the bags herself, so he had her upstairs loading clothes and whatever else she could find into bags for him to grab.

Of course, that was after Natsu asked her to gather all her things, only to find out she owned nothing besides the steak knife and her bracelet. Frowning, Natsu grabbed Max's backpack and started collecting items he thought she might need.

He pocketed Max's room key before heading to the upstairs bathroom with her, headlamp on his head with it turned on. "Fairy Tail lets you keep whatever you show up with," he explained, putting the bottles of women's body wash and shampoo into her bag. "The only exception is food, water, medical supplies, and weapons."

Natsu shoved a towel, a pack of cotton swabs, tweezers, and nail clippers into the bag. "You'll need stuff to start out with before you can go to the commissary to get more stuff."

"I s-see," Lucy mumbled, sitting on the edge of the bathtub. Her knife was downstairs, so he didn't worry about her attacking him... again.

He grabbed toothpaste and one of the toothbrushes, muttering an apology about her not getting a new one yet. She didn't seem to mind, keeping quiet as she watched him put more items in the bag.

"Can you do me a favor?" Natsu asked, knowing the chances of her replying were slim. "I don't wanna sound like a dick," he grabbed the bottle of mouthwash and a stick of deodorant before facing her, "but can you use these? My nose is pretty sensitive..."

Lucy accepted the items, lowering her gaze as she used the deodorant first. Natsu gave her privacy, looking under the sink to grab more supplies. He didn't want to offend her, but he couldn't take the stench any longer.

Cocking his head, Natsu's eyes landed on a box of pads. He hadn't thought of it before, but he realized she needed girl-specific items. Putting the box in the bag, he hoped 'regular' was good for her. Growing up around mostly guys, he didn't know a lot about feminine issues.

"Fairy Tail has extra mattresses and blankets, so you don't have to worry about those." Natsu held the bag out to her, waiting for her to place the items in her hand inside. She smelled slightly better, but his nose still twitched involuntarily.

Natsu grabbed a hairbrush before telling Lucy to follow him downstairs. She obeyed, remaining silent the entire time. He felt weird when he spoke, not knowing if she was going to respond or not. He wondered why she didn't like speaking to him. It wasn't as if he was bad company. 'Or maybe I am?' He had no clue.

The two walked into the kitchen where Natsu fetched the half-empty bottle of water. "Okay, this might hurt, but I'm gonna try to brush your hair."

Lucy raised a brow, but said nothing. Her eyes snapped to the brush when he lifted it, but she didn't move away.

"Turn around? I promise I won't hurt ya." He knew she didn't trust him, but he was fine with that. Truth be had, he didn't trust her either. How could he after she attacked him three times? Even if it was because she was scared, Natsu couldn't shake off his concern.

Still, he wanted to help. She seemed like she needed a break.

Lucy followed his instructions as he carefully picked out the twigs from her hair. Natsu knew it wasn't the best idea to waste clean water, but he didn't think it would help if she showed up with a bird's nest on her head. She had to appear safe.

Natsu lifted her hair with his hand, noting the way she flinched when his knuckles rubbed at her neck. When she settled, he carefully poured a bit of water on the ends. After placing the bottle on the table, Natsu got to work.

He gently brushed through the few wet inches of hair, gripping in the middle to make sure it didn't tug at her scalp. He had to do the same with Asuka a few times when she got dirty outside, but then he had used rain water and her hair was thicker than Lucy's.

Natsu didn't like brushing hair, but he was decent at it. The key was taking his time. Natsu slowly made his way inch by inch up her hair. The more he brushed, the longer her hair became, although she did lose some dead chunks of hair that had been matted with the healthier hair.

"You're doing great," Natsu praised as he released his grip on her hair, seeing it reached past her shoulders.

"This part my hurt," he warned before pouring water on her scalp. She tensed for a minute, but he was patient. "I'll be gentle," he whispered, bringing the brush an inch above the already-brushed hair.

Lucy winced more during that part, but she stuck through it. He could tell she was nervous, her rapid breathing being a clear sign of her distress. He didn't want to rush it, but he also didn't want to freak her out. "Almost done."

After a few more minutes, he was finished. "That'll have to do for now," he said, seeing her hair was still dirty, but for the most part it was brushed. He put the brush in her backpack, pulling out one of the rubber bands he found in the upstairs bathroom.

"Can you put your hair up? It's wet, and probably shouldn't touch your neck..." Lucy was already dealing with a nasty wound on her leg and cuts on her feet. A cold wouldn't make things easier for her, especially since Grandeeney told him they lacked that type of medication.

They seemed to be lacking a lot of things lately, the houses around the base picked clean.

Natsu sighed as he leaned back against the table. He wondered when the hell would be over. Would the military come in to eradicate the zombies, or would the undead eventually die off from lack of humans to eat from? He was tired of fighting for survival, wanting things to go back to normal.

He chuckled to himself as he closed his eyes, remembering his last few days before the outbreak. He was camping with his friends, their last trip before everyone was going their separate ways. If only he could relive those days again.

Frowning, Natsu thought, 'If only I could see Igneel again...'

With a deep sigh, he opened his eyes. It wasn't wise to get lost in his memories now. Zombies could be roaming the area, so he had to stay alert. Remembering there were more items upstairs that needed to be gathered, Natsu turned to Lucy. "Hey, can you help me with something?"

That was how she ended up bagging up the items. It helped speed things along, plus it showed she was able to do something useful. She would be assigned a job when she got to Fairy Tail because it was part of the rules.

Without a job, she wouldn't eat.

With all of Lucy's stuff bagged up -except her knife, Natsu zipped up the backpack and handed it to her. "Will you put that in the passenger seat? My truck's outside."

She was about to grab it before Natsu pulled it away, glancing down at her feet. It was dirty outside, and he didn't want her getting her socks messed up. Plus, she might run into a zombie outside. "Actually, I'll get it." He left the house to make his way to his truck.

It was warmer than earlier now that the sun had been out for a few hours. He put the bag in the passenger seat, then headed back in. "We should get you some shoes."

Natsu found a pair of women's shoes in one of the bags and handed them to her. Lucy frowned as she tried to put them on, but they were too small. Natsu tried to get her to wear the men's shoes he found, but they were too big, falling off her foot as soon as she lifted her leg.

"Damn," Natsu mumbled, trying to figure out what to do. She couldn't go around wearing socks all day. Feeling like an idiot, Natsu handed Lucy a pair of slippers he found in the downstairs closet. They were a dingy yellow color, but she didn't seem to mind since they fit her.

The corners of his lips quirked up when he saw her shuffling around the kitchen in them, testing them out. He couldn't help but thing she looked silly, but also adorable, like a kid who got a new toy.

Natsu finished loading the last bag into his truck ten minutes later. There was still stuff in the house, but he couldn't fit everything. He breathed deeply, feeling exhausted after all that. He grabbed two more bottles of water for the drive back, knowing it was fine since he was bringing so much stuff back with him.

Natsu's last task was getting Lucy in his truck. It was one thing to say she was coming to Fairy Tail, but another to get her to actually go. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried.

Natsu put his belt back on his hips when he went back inside. Usually now he would mark the door with a red 'X' because he was done, but since there were still supplies inside, he didn't want to risk it. Of course most of the supplies were furniture and random junk, but Natsu figured it'd be a waste of paint to mark the door.

Lucy was still in the kitchen, sitting on the table. She had her peanut butter in her hands again, scooping out more to eat. He decided to give her a few minutes. She would need it.

When she finished, he inspected the jar. She ate at least half of it. Doing the math, Natsu realized she ate a little over two-thousand calories. That would definitely help with her weight issue, but she would need consistent food to gain enough weight to be considered healthy. Pocketing the jar in his cargo shorts, Natsu jerked a thumb towards the door. "You still okay with going with me?"

She grabbed her knife slowly, taking a moment before finding her voice. "S-sure."

Natsu swallowed before nodding. "Let's go then." He held the front door open for her, turning off his headlamp as she took a cautious step towards his truck. She paused, hands wrapping around her waist while her knife stuck out away from her body.

She was afraid. He didn't know if it was from zombies or outside, but she seemed paralyzed. Natsu closed the door behind him, walking in front of her until she met his gaze. "What are you scared of?"

Lucy's bottom lip trembled as her eyes darted around the area. "Wh-what if... th-they... Ca... cann..."

"Can?"

She shook her head, fingers clutching at his shirt she wore. "C-cannib-b-bals."

Natsu furrowed his brows at her. "Cannibals? What do you—" He realized then what she meant. "The zombies?" When she didn't answer, he added, "You saw one earlier in the backyard. Is that what you mean by cannibals?"

Lucy stared at him, biting at her lip where it wasn't split. "Th-they m—" She swallowed as tears filled her eyes. "Wh-what if..."

Natsu frowned. "You're worried about zombies? There might be more out here, but most of them are in town." He glanced around the yard to make sure they were still clear. "At base we call 'em a few things, but no one really calls them cannibals. Zombies, undead, walkers, sprinters... But I guess they are cannibals."

He looked back at Lucy, seeing her face pale. "I don't see any here though. We should be fine. This area's pretty safe." Natsu thought about finding her in the basement. If she hadn't gone through the house, she must have climbed through that window. He didn't know where she came from or why she looked roughed up, but he knew he had to ease her mind.

Feeling his chest tighten, Natsu crouched down, glancing over his shoulder. "Please don't cut me," was his only request before he looked back at his truck. "I'll carry you to the truck. We gotta go before it gets too late."

He waited for a moment, wondering if she would take his offer. He was surprised when he heard her slippers scraping against the porch, two thin arms wrapping around his neck.

Natsu was wary of her knife, but she seemed to be pointing it away from his face. He appreciated that, not wanting to lose an eye today. When he felt her wrap her legs around his waist and put her weight on him, he stood, hands grabbing at her thighs. He was stunned. She felt as light as a feather, which wasn't a good thing.

As Natsu walked to his truck, he felt Lucy flinch on his back with every step. He was thankful when he reached the passenger side so they could separate, still fearful she would turn on him and stab him. He knew the likeliness was low, but he couldn't stop from worrying.

He used one hand to open the door, then turned so she could climb into the cab. Lucy let go of him quickly, clearly relieved they weren't touching any longer. He didn't take offense. He knew they were both having a rough day and lacked trust between them. It was natural to be cautious.

Natsu closed the door when Lucy was secure. He walked around the back, making sure nothing looked loose. He saw a streak of blood from the corner of the tailgate. He cursed, realizing Max's body was bleeding out of the tarp now. At least everything in the back was in trash bags or could be rinsed off in the rain.

Climbing into the driver's seat, Natsu closed the door. He glanced over to see Lucy drinking one of the water bottles, holding it as if it was the most precious thing in the world. With the way the world was now, water could be seen as precious.

His eyes fell to the charm bracelet on her wrist, able to see they were zodiac symbols. They didn't hold his attention long, his eyes flickering to the small, round, blistered marks on her arm. He grimaced, immediately recognizing that type of wound.

It was a cigarette burn.

The pack of cigarettes in his pocket suddenly felt heavier.

He had seen plenty of cigarette burns when he was in the orphanage as a child. More kids than he cared to admit had those same marks on their hands, arms, and sometimes even their legs. He had been fortunate to never end up with one, but he imagined they hurt.

Natsu opened his mouth to ask her who gave her that burn, but stopped when he realized she didn't look so scared for once. He closed his mouth, deciding he could ask her later. Considering he was about to take her to a brand new place with a lot of people, he needed her to relax.

He could only imagine how anxious she would feel when they got there. She freaked out earlier and it was just him. How would she react around multiple people?

Natsu started the truck, making sure to turn the heater on so Lucy could warm up. Putting the truck in reverse, he turned around so he could head through the woods again. Lucy seemed tense for the first few minutes, but she slowly relaxed as he drove down the dirt road.

They drove past the two zombies Natsu killed earlier, making their way back to the neighborhood where he was sent to find Max. Not wanting to think about his dead friend, Natsu tried to stay out of his head.

"So," he started when the dirt road turned into concrete. "Fairy Tail is Magnolia's high school. I used to go there before I graduated. Did you go there?" He had pushed the thought aside earlier, but something about her looked familiar. He figured he was imagining it though.

Lucy looked at him, shaking her head. "N-no."

Frowning, Natsu guessed he really didn't know her. "Are you from Magnolia?" he asked, surprised when she shook her head again. Most of the people at Fairy Tail were from Magnolia, except a few who were passing through during the outbreak. "Really? Where are you from?"

Natsu waited for an answer, sighing when she turned away from him. He knew he should have expected that from her by now, but he was hoping she would open up. How hard was it to tell him what city she was from?

"You probably shouldn't room by yourself right now," Natsu said, more to himself than her. "I'm sure you can stay with some of my friends. They're really nice."

She wouldn't be able to stay with Erza and Jellal. The married couple valued their space and Lucy would put a strain on their relationship if they had to keep looking after her. She couldn't stay with Gray, Lyon, or Ultear. They already had three people to their room and didn't have enough space for a fourth bed. Cana and Levy seemed to be the best choice.

As an afterthought, Natsu added, "Cana can come on a little strong in the beginning, but you'll get used to her. Levy's cool too. I'm sure you two would get along. You're both quiet."

He thought that might get a reaction from her, but she didn't budge. Natsu was a social person, wanting conversations and interactions. Half the time he felt like he was talking to a brick wall, and not in the sense that Lucy was stubborn.

Natsu figured Lucy staying with Cana and Levy was the best situation. They would be able to defend themselves if Lucy tried something, even if he thought those chances were low. He would give his friends a warning -and probably earn a long discussion from Erza about not bringing hostile people back to Fairy Tail. He hoped they would understand that he couldn't just leave Lucy out there to die.

A thought bubbled up in Natsu's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. 'She wouldn't want to stay with me. Right?' Sure he was now out a roommate, but he didn't think Lucy would want to be near him after she met Cana and Levy. Girls tended to stick together, so he doubted she would agree to live in his room. She would feel comfortable around them, he was sure of it.

"Our section of rooms had our 'supply day' yesterday, so you may not get anything new until next Tuesday. I'll ask if they can make an exception since you're new."

Lucy narrowed her eyes. "T-Tues...day?"

"Yeah." Natsu glanced at her, seeing the confusion etched on her face. "Today's Wednesday."

Lucy shook her head slightly. "I... d-didn't... kn-know."

Natsu's green eyes softened as he looked back at the road. "That's fine. It's easy to lose track of the days. If it wasn't for the calendar in my room, I'd probably forget too." It may not be the conversation he wanted, but it was better than silence. "I got some scratch paper in my room. I'll copy my calendar over for you so you can keep track. Do you at least know what month we're in?"

"N-no."

"Oh." Natsu furrowed his brows, wondering if she never bothered to keep track of the days after the outbreak or if she did and got lost. "It's October... October fourth."

When he looked at Lucy again, he found her eyes wide, her bottom lip trembling. "Hey, are you okay?"

Shaking her head, she brought her feet up in the seat so she could wrap her arms around her legs. "That l-long... huh?"

Natsu kept his voice soft, eyes flitting from her to the road. "How long has it been since you last knew the date?"

She said nothing, only turning to look out the window. Natsu scratched his head, wondering if he should pry more. He took a drink of water, wishing he could smoke right now. With the marks on Lucy's wrist, he didn't want to scare her by lighting up. He could always wait until later today when she wasn't around.

Dreading the silence, Natsu came up with an idea. "Do you like music?" Lucy didn't answer, but she did look his way. "I can play some," he offered, hand hovering over the power button to his stereo. When she didn't protest, he pushed the button to play his CD. It started towards the middle of the last song he was listening to.

Natsu pressed the skip button, not knowing if Lucy liked country music. A lot of people from Magnolia did because it was a smaller town, but Lucy said she wasn't from here. The next song playing was one of his favorites, so he turned it up. He sang along, not caring if his voice was off-key and scratchy.

After singing a few lines, Natsu paused, shifting his shoulders a little to go along with the song, loosening up. Natsu stole a peek at Lucy while he sang, seeing she was looking down at her floorboard. He hoped he wasn't making her uncomfortable, but he saw her shoulders relaxing. As long as she wasn't tense, he was fine.

When the woman's part of the song came on, Natsu continued. He raised his voice a bit, giving his best girl impression as he sang. It wasn't very good, but he didn't care. Less than a minute went by before Natsu noticed something. He didn't know if he was hearing things, but it sounded like Lucy huffed air through her nose, similar to when someone was trying to hold back a laugh.

Natsu looked at her, seeing she was trying to hide her half-smile behind her hand. She wasn't fooling him. Just to see if he was right, he sang the next part dramatically, moving his body in a silly dance while singing in a high-pitched voice.

He was positive he heard Lucy holding back a laugh now. He smiled, realizing maybe she wasn't so bad after all. He didn't mind acting like a fool if it put her at ease. He usually didn't care what people thought of him, and she was no exception.

He continued singing, noticing every now and then when Lucy's feet would move with the beat of the song. They were already halfway to Fairy Tail when the next song came on. It had Natsu laughing immediately.

The drums and chiming sounded, letting him know "I'll make a man out of you" from the Mulan Disney movie was playing. Anyone who ever watched the movie would recognize it. "I can change it," Natsu offered, bringing his hand towards the dash again. "I know it's kinda silly."

"N-no," Lucy said, looking at him as if scared he would push the next button. She relaxed back in her seat, but kept her legs close to her body. "I l-like it..."

Natsu smiled, nodding. "Then we'll listen to it."

Natsu sang, wishing Lucy would join him at least once. She didn't, but that was okay. He couldn't expect her to fully relax around him. They just met, and under the circumstances, he doubted they would be friends quickly. Or at all. Still, he enjoyed the company since she seemed more involved now.

For the next part, Natsu sang each line differently, mimicking the characters who sang them from the movie. That song eventually ended, replaced by another Disney song because that was the type of mood Natsu was in when he burned the CD. Lucy continued listening, no longer trying to hide the small smile pulling at her lips. She never sang any of the lines with him, but her toes tapping was enough to make Natsu content.

'Maybe she isn't hostile.' He thought, hoping she would behave when they got to Fairy Tail.

That hope faded when he saw Lucy shrink down in her seat, her fingers gripping at her legs until her nails dug into her dirty flesh. Fairy Tail was within view, or more importantly, the gate and guards were. He could see how it was intimidating at first, but that was their protection against the undead. It was a necessity.

"Hey, it's fine," Natsu said, slowing the truck down until it came to a stop. He was a block away from the school. "I promise no one's gonna hurt you in there."

Lucy shook her head, burying her face in her knees. "Y-you c-can't..."

"I can't what?" Natsu asked, waiting for a reply that never came. "I can protect you, Lucy. I already promised I would." He didn't break his promises.

Natsu sighed when she didn't respond, wondering what he could do to convince her it was okay. He decided to wait it out. Lucy had a few tears fall down her cheeks as she went through what Natsu assumed was fear. They listened to a few more songs, the most recent being "Like a Boss".

He didn't know if it was the ridiculous lyrics playing around them or time, but eventually Lucy stopped crying. She lifted her head, revealing her watery brown eyes. They were full of fear and panic, something Natsu hated seeing. Fairy Tail was a good place, and he wanted her to know that.

He was about to tell her just that, but he stopped when he saw Lucy open her mouth. "P-pro...mise?"

Relief flooded Natsu in an instant. Turning off the music, he said as strongly as he could, "I promise. I'll personally make sure no harm comes to you." Then he added, "Not that I need to. No one's gonna try anything. We have rules against that."

Lucy gulped before coughing, trying to clear her throat. She wiped her eyes with his shirt sleeve, nodding. "O-okay."

"Great," he whispered, letting off the brake. He drove up to the gate, then stuck his head out the window after rolling it down. "Hey! Will you let 'em know I got some stuff to turn in?!"

The gate guard holding a rifle nodded, pulling out a walkie talkie to say something. Afterwards he motioned with his hand for Natsu to move, so he did. He turned the wheel, driving around to the back until he made it to the gate he drove through earlier.

Lucy was tense, clearly scared of the unfamiliar place. Natsu knew she would relax when she saw people were friendly here. It would take time, but she would adjust.

Natsu pulled up to the back gate, shouting out the window that he had stuff to turn in. A man nodded before opening the gate for him, signalling Natsu to drive through.

"We have two gates," Natsu explained as he drove slowly, allowing the escort to walk beside the vehicle. "The main one is for people, but this one is for vehicles. It's good to warn the main gate though since usually vehicles don't come through."

Once again, Natsu felt like he was talking to a brick wall. Lucy gave no signs she even heard him, her eyes darting left and right as he neared the school. "Don't worry, Lucy. This shouldn't take long."

When Natsu got close enough, he turned around so he could reverse. It would make it easier for people to unload. The drop off place was by a set of double doors that led to the second cafeteria. It was where they stored items like food and water.

A man with long green hair walked up to Natsu's truck. He rolled up the window before hopping out, telling Lucy to wait a minute. He closed the door behind him, hoping she would be okay by herself.

"Hey Freed," Natsu started when he looked back at the man. "I found some stuff."

Freed glanced at the back of the truck, then at Natsu with a raised brow. "Really? I hadn't noticed."

Natsu forced out a laugh as his throat tightened. He didn't know why he felt nervous, blaming it on bringing a hostile person back to the base. "Oh, umm... I also found a survivor."

Freed blinked, looking past Natsu to peer into the window of the truck. He locked eyes with the girl before she turned her gaze away from him. "I see... She seems shy."

"She is," Natsu said, hoping that would be enough to explain her weird behavior. He was doing a lot of hoping lately. "So, I don't remember everything that happens. I know she has to get processed, but is that it? Do I take her to Yukino first or—"

"Where'd you find her?" Freed asked, cutting him off.

"Oh," Natsu faltered, caught off guard. While he explained that he found her] in the basement of a house, a few men started unloading the bed of the truck.

"Did you find Max?"

It didn't surprise him that Freed knew the circumstances for Natsu being off base today. Not only was communication vital, the base was small. Word traveled quickly, whether it was fact or rumor.

Frowning, Natsu was reminded why he was off base in the first place. "Yeah, but the undead got to him."

"Pity." Freed pulled out a notebook, writing something down. He walked to the back of Natsu's truck, looking inside the bed. "Is this his body?"

"Yeah..."

"Did you take care of him?"

Natsu didn't have to ask what that meant. "Yes."

"Very well." Freed lifted a part of the tarp to assess the damage. "We can put him to ground immediately. There's a few graves already dug."

Natsu cringed, hating that they dug plots in advance. He understood it saved time in the long run, but it still made his stomach twist. Being optimistic by nature, Natsu didn't like thinking about death.

"You can come visit him after dinner time. That should be enough time for the fire to die down."

Burning the bodies assured the infection couldn't spread through the ground and contaminate the plants they had growing in their garden. Or, at least, that was the idea. Without knowing all the ways the virus spread they had to take extra precautions.

"Okay." Natsu nodded, knowing he would come by to say goodbye to Max now that he was on base and safe from zombies. He could properly mourn without worrying about getting bit. "Oh, the knife he was using is in the truck too."

"I'll have someone return it to the weapons room." Freed jotted something down before glancing at the truck. "Now, about the girl. Is she hostile?"

"Nope," Natsu lied, feeling his heart hammer wildly. "She's just a little scared."

"Uh huh." Freed's blue eyes flitted to Natsu. "What happened to your face?"

Natsu pressed his fingers to the bandage again, wincing from the throbbing sensation, but thankful he didn't see any blood on the tips of his fingers. "A sprinter chased me. I accidentally hit my face on the side of a house while I was rounding the corner. I guess one of its side panels was loose and got me."

Freed wrote every word down. "And your shirt is missing because?"

Natsu let out a nervous laugh. "About that. Umm, her shirt was ripped up." He wasn't going to add that he could she her tit. "I gave her mine." Natsu jerked a thumb to the truck. "She needed it more than me."

"I see. Did you find out if she has any special skills?"

Natsu blinked. "Skills?"

Freed nodded. "Yes. Any medical training? Skilled with a weapon? They'll need to place her in a job that will be the most beneficial. So, any special skills?"

Natsu would have to write down the rules on finding a survivor so he knew what to ask, not that it mattered much in Lucy's case.

"I don't know. She's not much of a talker."

"Alright," Freed said dryly. "Did you explain the rules to her?"

"Not yet..." Natsu hoped that wouldn't be an issue. He was already breaking the rules he was supposed to recite to her. "But I will."

"You better," Freed scolded. When he wasn't working he was a laid back guy, but while he was on the job he was serious. It was unlike his boyfriend. Laxus was serious no matter what, only joking on rare occasions... Or so Natsu heard.

"Do you know what you want to keep?" Freed asked. With the haul he brought it he was privileged to take something he wanted as long as it wasn't food, water, or medical supplies. Weapons were a different story, but Natsu didn't have to worry about that since he didn't want any of the knives he found.

"I found some cat food," Natsu said. There were three other cats that lived at Fairy Tail, as well as two dogs. "I don't want the whole bag since I know there's other cats, but can I get my cut for Happy now? It's fish-flavored and—"

Freed nodded, motioning one of the guys unloading the bed of the truck to come over. "Fill a bag with half the cat food. Remember to tape up the rest so it doesn't go bad." When he turned to Natsu, he sasure"I remember you said your cat is picky."

Natsu felt instant relief knowing Happy would actually eat today. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Freed said with a raised brow. "You're the one who found it and brought it back. Besides, you would receive that food anyways. Is there anything else you want?"

Natsu looked back at the truck of supplies. There was nothing he wanted, but he could try to get a favor instead. "Can I get a rinse?"

Freed furrowed his brows. "What?"

Natsu held out his arms to show the dirt and dried blood on his skin. "Can I get a rinse after I get processed? I'm kinda dirty and today was my day off, so I was supposed to be clean and—"

"Sure," Freed cut off his rambling. "I'll tell Jellal."

Natsu perked up. He forgot Jellal was starting his first day in processing after... Well, after the last person with the job became infected. Luckily, they trapped the infection in the room before it spread to the whole base. It was unfortunate they lost two people, but it was better than everyone getting infected. He had been part of the team that had to go in and eliminate the problem, then stayed to help clean up the blood afterwards.

His chest hurt when he recalled Kagura's screams. The thought of losing people always hurt, but if that person was family— It was easier to not think about such things.

Freed pulled out his walkie talkie as he walked away, leaving Natsu alone. He waited until a guy came back with a plastic bag full of cat food before he returned to the truck. Opening the driver's door, Natsu placed the bag in his seat.

Lucy's head had already snapped in his direction, so he didn't need to get her attention. He could see she was barely keeping herself together, her eyes darting back and forth and her breathing labored. "Everything's gonna be fine. In a minute, they're gonna start unloading the backseat though. Just don't freak out."

Lucy slowly nodded, gulping before her arms wrapped tighter around her legs. He hoped she would behave. "Nothing bad's gonna happen. I promise." Glancing at the water bottles, he added, "You should finish that. After this, we're not allowed to bring in any food or drinks."

Lucy's eyes widened as she grabbed her water bottle. While she drank what was left, he said, "Go ahead and drink mine too. I don't mind."

She nodded, putting her empty bottle in the floorboard before grabbing his. Natsu closed the door, then remembered something important. "Oh, Freed!" he shouted, stopping the man from entering the school. "I almost forgot!"

Natsu yanked the back door open, carefully removing the shotgun from beneath the seat. He looked at Freed, smiling wide when he showed him the weapon. "I found this and a rifle while I was out."

Freed glanced over it before sighing. He brought his finger towards the weapon, sliding something on the top of the gun. "The safety was off."

Natsu frowned as he handed it over. "Oh, I didn't know." He had next to no experience with guns. His father owned a pistol, but it was an antique that wasn't meant to be fired anymore.

"It's fine," Freed said, collecting the shotgun and rifle. "This will definitely help. Did you find any ammo?"

Natsu nodded. "It's in the backseat. Want me to get it?"

He started to move to grab it, but Freed stopped him. "That's alright. We'll make sure it makes its way to the arsenal. You did good today."

Natsu smiled at the praise. Freed wasn't the type to give it often. While he walked away, Natsu went back to the front seat of the truck. He figured it would be easier for Lucy to keep calm if she knew someone there, even if they barely knew each other.

He played some music, hoping it would distract Lucy while men started unloading the backseat. Her body was tense, but at least she didn't try to swipe her knife at them. It was progress, right?

Speaking of her knife, Natsu glanced down at it on the floorboard. "So, there's something I mentioned earlier..." he started, catching Lucy's attention. "Im not sure you heard me,, but it's about your knife."

She glanced at it too, then looked to Natsu. He could see the confusion on her face, but she didn't say anything.

"See, we're not allowed to have weapons inside unless we're guards." Natsu saw her cheek twitch. "So, when we go inside, we're gonna have to check them in. You can have it back if you decide to go off base, but you can't have it on you inside..."

Lucy blinked, then looked back to her knife. Natsu didn't know why she would want to keep it anyway. It didn't look strong. Sure, it cut his cheek pretty good, but he doubted it could stay together long enough to pierce through a zombie's skull.

"You won't need it anyways," he said, shifting so he could look out the window at the school. "You can probably find a job on base, then you won't have to worry about weapons."

"J-job?"

Natsu glanced over to her, seeing she was meeting his gaze. "Yeah. That's another thing I shoulda mentioned. Everyone here has a job. Well, I guess kids and super old people don't, but they can't do much anyways. Everyone else has one though. I actually have a few."

Lucy raised a brow, prompting him to explain. "Some days I stand watch, others I go out and kill zombies. My favorite is doing runs, like today."

Natsu frowned. "Well, I guess today doesn't exactly count. See, it was my day off, but my roommate didn't come back last night..." Natsu turned, seeing the top of the tarp through the back window. They hadn't removed Max's body yet. "He didn't make it."

Natsu turned to look at Lucy, but she was staring at the floorboard again. He wondered if she heard anything he just said. "Did you happen to see him?"

Lucy glanced up, eyebrows furrowed and head tilting. "Wh-who?"

"My friend, Max. He's my age, sandy brown hair. I found..." Natsu took a deep breath, reminding himself to wait until later to mourn. "I found his body near the house where I found you. Did you come across him?"

She stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. "N-no... H-haven't seen any... one s-since—" She cut herself off, turning her head away quickly to avoid his eyes.

"Since...what?" Natsu asked, not surprised when she didn't respond. He sighed, resting his head against the seat as the back of his truck continued to be unloaded. He wished she would open up more, but he guessed he didn't need to know her life story in order to help her survive.

Lucy needed food, water, medical attention, shelter, and protection. Everything else was just a luxury.

---

The back doors were closed just as Freed tapped on Natsu's window. He rolled it down so he wouldn't have to open the door. "Yeah?"

"We have everything. You're good to go."

Natsu nodded, thankful Lucy only tensed at Freed's voice instead of freaking out. "Cool. Does the guard want a ride?"

Freed turned to the guard who would be escorting Natsu and Lucy to processing. "Want a ride?"

"A ride would be manly!" the tall, muscular man with white hair called back before hopping on the tailgate of his truck.

Natsu cocked his head at the action. He meant a ride in the backseat, but the bed was good enough. "Don't fall out, Elfman," Natsu said before rolling up his window and starting the vehicle. He drove slowly to the parking lot, not wanting to accidentally hurt the guard in the process.

He could only imagine what Elfman's big sister would do to him if he got injured.

'If he gets a few bruises maybe Sherry can play doctor with him.' He smothered a snicker, finding them odd together, but it wasn't his business. 'If Elfman keeps her company, she'll leave me alone. That's a good enough reason for them to do... whatever it is they're doing.'

Lucy said nothing as he drove around the school to the parking lot. He parked in what used to be the student's parking lot, but now it was fair game to anyone with a vehicle. Natsu found his spot empty, deciding to take it since it was near the front, meaning less walking to the school.

After parking, Natsu climbed out of the truck to get ready. Max's backpack and his cargo pockets were already stuffed, so there would be less to carry. Elfman waited for him at the back, busy inspecting his rifle while Natsu prepared.

Natsu walked around to the passenger side, slowly opening the door for Lucy to get out. "Do you want me to carry you again?" he asked, ready to secure the backpack to his front so she could ride on his back. However, that wasn't necessary.

Lucy shook her head as she shakily climbed out of the truck on her own. He held his hands up, ready to catch her if she stumbled, but she did well to stay balanced despite her condition, even if she coughed a few times along the way.

Natsu put the backpack on correctly, then closed the door before leading her to the school. Elfman stayed a few steps behind them. He was on duty right now, only there to make sure they turned in their weapons and got cleared by processing before they were free to wander around the school.

Or in Natsu's case, get Lucy set up with the nurse and a room so he could go take a nap in his own bed. He was exhausted, the lack of sleep finally getting to him.

"So Natsu," Elfman started, causing both Natsu and Lucy to jolt in surprise.

He cast a glance over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Who's the girl?"

Natsu's lips quirked up in a fake smile, his chest tightening when he realized he would probably have to explain who she was a bit before people laid off. "This is Lucy. She's a survivor I found."

Natsu glanced over at the frightened girl, seeing she had her arms wrapped around her waist. He disliked that he couldn't see her shorts peeking out from his shirt. It made her look naked underneath. Fairy tail was a safe place, but it wasn't pervert-free.

"Is she infected?" Elfman asked, looking at the bandage on her leg.

"Nope. I've been with her for over an hour and she's showing no signs." Natsu lowered his voice as he said, "Lucy, could you tuck part of that shirt in?"

Lucy glanced down, wrinkles forming on her forehead as she tried to figure out why he would request that. Her eyes widened when he finally informed her that to everyone else, she appeared naked.

She quickly tucked some of his shirt into the left side of her shorts, revealing her dirty clothes. Natsu sighed. At least it was better than before.

Deciding to lighten the mood, Natsu asked, "Hey Elfman. Did Mira say what's for dinner tonight?"

He laughed, his voice much deeper than Natsu's. "You know she doesn't like telling people beforehand. It's not manly to ruin the surprise!"

"So, you don't know either?" Natsu asked, giving Elfman a cheeky grin.

Elfman nodded. "Nope. She won't even tell me. But I did see Lisanna in the garden today. She was grabbing some tomatoes, so maybe something with that?"

Natsu groaned. "I hope Alzack catches something good soon. I want some meat. I'm tired of vegetables!"

"Tomatoes are a fruit," Elfman countered, but Natsu waved him off.

"Close enough to vegetables in my book." Natsu was about to say something else, but stopped when he heard a soft sound coming from Lucy. Glancing at her, he saw she was biting her lip, holding back a smile.

Natsu felt the tension in his chest ease up. Lucy might not be full out laughing and talking, but that was a start. As long as she wasn't trying to hurt anyone, she would be okay here. He was confident being at Fairy Tail would bring her out of whatever protective shell she built around herself.

"Just because you say it, doesn't mean it's true," Elfman said, bringing Natsu away from his thoughts.

"Oh yeah?" Natsu started, looking at the guard again. "Well I'm pretty sure since the world went to shit, that means we can rewrite the rules. I say tomatoes are a vegetable!"

"Let me guess, you think cucumbers are vegetables too?"

"Of course!" Natsu threw his hands in the air, seeing Lucy flinch away from him. He dropped them, muttering an apology to her before glaring at Elfman again. "If it goes on a salad, it's a vegetable!"

"What about croutons?"

Natsu barely held back a growl. "Okay, now you're just fuckin' with me!"

Elfman laughed at the way Natsu's eye twitched. "You're too fun to mess with. Anyways, we're here."

Natsu looked in front of him, realizing they were already at the arena. Part of him wanted to keep joking around, but he knew the fun was over. Elfman couldn't be seen fooling around while on the job. It would reflect poorly on him and possibly get him in trouble.

Guards were there for everyone's safety. Joking around could cause him to miss something that might put someone else in danger.

The three walked in silence up the stairs, Lucy's steps growing increasingly slower the closer they got to the building. Natsu noticed, inching towards her and whispering so only she could hear. "It's okay. We're just going to turn in our weapons and get processed. It's fast, I promise."

Natsu glanced down to her bandaged leg, frowning. "Then I'm taking you straight to the doctor so we can both get cleaned up."

His cheek throbbed in pain when he remembered it again, but it hurt less than before. He assumed it was due to his focus being on Lucy to make sure she kept calm. Natsu didn't want anyone knowing she was possibly hostile. It would get her kicked out and him in trouble.

"Hey Natsu!" Nobarly called out once he saw him step into the arena. "Back so soon? I don't see Max with ya. Did'ju need the tarp after all?"

Natsu narrowed his eyes, teeth grounding as he tried to keep himself under control. Now wasn't the time to let his emotions get the better of him. "Shut up," he grunted, angry that he was making jokes about his dead friend. Natsu understood there was a lack of entertainment now, but that didn't give him a right to be insensitive.

Natsu removed the belt around his waist that contained his two knives before turning around, gently holding out his hand towards Lucy. She reluctantly handed him her steak knife, arms wrapping around her body again.

When he turned back to face Nobarly, he lifted the weapons. "Just take our weapons so we can leave."

"We?" Nobarly raised a brow as he leaned to the side, looking past Natsu. Once he saw Lucy, he blurted out, "Whoa! What happened to her face?!" He cackled, pointing at Lucy's black eye. "Dude! Did someone punch her?!"

"Stop," Natsu muttered, barely keeping his temper from boiling over. "Just leave her alone." She had been through enough. She didn't need his teasing added on.

Elfman stepped up, crossing his arms over his chest with his rifle slung around his back. "It's not manly to make fun of ladies."

"No way you can call her a lady!" Nobarly turned, shouting at his buddies in the arsenal. "Hey guys! Look at the ugly chick Natsu dragged in!"

"I said stop," Natsu growled, one hand balling into a fist around Lucy's steak knife while the other gripped tighter on his belt. "Just take the—"

"He brought a chick?" one of the other guards asked, strolling over to see what the fuss was about. He stopped a foot away from Lucy, covering his nose and mouth with a gloved hand. "Shit. Why the fuck does she smell so bad?"

Nobarly and his friends behind the window laughed while Natsu clenched his teeth. He was two seconds away from slamming his fist into the guard's face when Elfman stepped in, ushering the other guard away while scolding him for being rude.

Natsu turned his anger towards Nobarly, but stopped when he heard a soft sniffle coming from behind him. He turned around, chest tightening and stomach twisting when he saw Lucy's eyes lined with tears. She was trying to hold it together, but he could tell their words hurt.

To make matters worse, one of Nobarly's friends whispered something in his ear, causing the guy to laugh and shake his head. "No way! You'd have to hose her down with a pressure washer before I fu—"

He never finished his sentence, Natsu's fist connecting violently with Nobarly's mouth. It was a miracle Lucy's knife didn't cut his face considering Natsu didn't let go of it as he punched him.

As Nobarly fell to the ground, Natsu slammed the steak knife and his belt on the counter, shooting everyone in there a filthy look before baring his teeth. "Anyone else got something to say?"

When they all shook their heads, he grunted. "Good. Just check those in, you fucking assholes."

Natsu didn't wait for them to respond before turning, roughly grabbing Lucy's wrist to pull her away from those horrid people. She didn't struggle in his grasp, accepting his action as he dragged her down stairs to the main part of the arena.

"Stupid fucking dicks," he muttered, hating that Lucy was exposed to that. It didn't accurately represent Fairy Tail, but first impressions could stick.

He ignored Elfman, who was following closely behind them as he made his way to the processing station.

"Don't listen to them," Natsu sneered, angry they judged Lucy based off what she looked like, as if it actually mattered. What happened to getting to know a person? Sure, she didn't smell pleasant now, but who could blame her? Showers weren't exactly easy to come by now that the world was crumbling around them. "They're just dipshits anyways."

Lucy said nothing as he pulled her, stumbling when he slowed down. "I'm really sorry for that..." He let go of her wrist when they made it to the ground floor of the arena, the area dimly lit from the large windows on the walls and ceiling.

Natsu checked to make sure he didn't hurt her, frowning when he saw a bruise forming around her wrist where he grabbed her. He hoped having her at Fairy Tail would bring her health back to normal, because that certainly wasn't normal.

"Yukino is really nice," Natsu said, doubting she would believe him after what happened. Here he was trying to convince Lucy things would be alright at Fairy Tail, only for her to get harassed immediately by a couple of idiots.

When Lucy didn't say anything back, he asked, "Do you need a minute before I take you to processing?"

She shook her head, refusing to meet his gaze. His heart clenched at the sight of her tears running down her face, but she didn't make a sound. He couldn't help but blame himself. He wished she would say something, but he guessed her silent tears said everything about what she was feeling.

"Come on, let's go."

Without touching her, he led her to the 'away' team's locker rooms. It was now the girl processing station, run by Yukino, or Hisui on Yukino's day off. Natsu knew he couldn't walk right in, so he stopped outside of the door and knocked with a heavy fist, making sure she could hear him.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing a woman with light blue, almost silver hair. She smiled brightly at Natsu until she saw his face and chest. "What happened to your shirt? Or your face?"

Natsu laughed. "Long story. I'll tell ya later."

She nodded, then turned her attention to Lucy. "Oh dear." She reached a hand out to touch a bruise on Lucy's arm, shocked when the girl flinched away. "What happened to her?" Her voice was soft and full of concern for Lucy's overall state of health.

"Apocalypse happened," Natsu answered, his tone suggesting she shouldn't ask more questions. "I found her in a basement. She's gonna join Fairy Tail."

"Oh," Yukino started, nodding as she glanced at Natsu. "So, she needs to be processed." It wasn't a question since every new survivor had to be checked out to make sure they weren't infected.

"Yup," Natsu said with a grin, thankful Yukino wasn't saying anything else about Lucy's appearance. He was also glad she hadn't said anything about Lucy's smell. "She has this bag of items, but the cat food in there is Happy's."

Natsu handed the backpack over to Yukino for inspecting. He looked at Lucy, seeing the fear in her eyes as Yukino took the bag. She had already given up her knife, so he could imagine she would be upset to give up the only items she had left. "It's okay, Lucy," he whispered. "She's just gonna look through it, then she'll give it right back. It's her job."

Lucy looked at him, brown eyes glossy as she nodded. He saw her chew on her bottom lip, wincing when she came across the cut again. He wanted to ask why she kept doing it if it hurt her, but he guessed it was a nervous habit. When he was nervous or frustrated, he had his own habits, usually running his hand through his hair or scratching his head.

'As long as she doesn't freak out, everything should be fine.'

Yukino opened the door wider. "We're all set. Now, if you'll come on in, I'll check you over."

Lucy jerked her head towards Yukino, then back at Natsu. Her lips twisted as she took the smallest step towards him, glancing at Yukino again. "H-him t-too?"

Raising a brow at the odd behavior, Yukino said, "He can't come in here. He has to go to the men's room."

"Don't worry about it, Lucy." Natsu gave her a smile that didn't seem to relax her. "It'll be over soon. I'll meet you out here once you're done."

Her cheek twitched before she opened her mouth. It looked as if she was going to speak, but she closed her mouth before any words could form. Natsu took a risk, slowly raising his hand so she could see his every move. He gently rested his hand on her shoulder before giving her a light pat. "I promise, Yukino's one of the nicest people here. She'll take good care of you."

Lucy looked unconvinced, refusing to move a muscle. Her brown eyes pleaded for something, but without her voicing what she wanted, Natsu was left confused. With a sigh, he turned to Yukino. "Could you give us a minute?"

"Of course," she said, flashing Lucy a soft smile. "Take all the time you need."

"Not too much time," Elfman interjected, reminding them that he was still there. "I need to get back soon."

"Right. We'll hurry," Natsu said before leading Lucy a few feet away. He waited until Yukino and Elfman started talking before whispering to Lucy, "Are you scared of Yukino or something?"

Lucy shook her head, staring down at her feet. He wondered what the problem was if she didn't fear Yukino. That woman was harmless. "What is it then? Can you tell me?"

She looked up at him, fresh tears in her eyes. "D-don't... le—" Her voice cracked as the tears spilled.

"Don't what?" Natsu whispered, taking a small step forward.

Her bottom lip quivered as she struggled to talk. "L-le—"

"Don't let?" Natsu guessed, frowning when she shook her head. Trying to figure out her name was somewhat amusing, but more guessing seemed like a pain. "Just, tell me. No matter how long it takes you to get the words out. I'm not a mind reader."

Lucy blinked away the tears as she nodded, taking in a shaky breath. "D-don't... le-lea... leave."

"Don't leave?" he repeated, wondering why she would say that.

Her lips pressed into a tight line before she nodded. Natsu felt sick knowing he would have to give her bad news, but rules were rules. "I can't go in the woman's locker room. Look, Yukino isn't gonna hurt you or make fun of you. She's nice. You can trust her."

Lucy didn't look convinced.

"Look at it this way," Natsu started, taking a different approach, "the faster you finish up in there, the faster you can get out here again. I have to get checked over too, but I don't wanna strip in front of Yukino. And I'm sure she wouldn't like that either. Besides, I can guarantee I'll finish before you, so I'll be waiting right here when you get done."

Lucy let out a whimper, wringing her hands together before sighing. "K-kay."

"Great," Natsu said, but his tone didn't back him up. He carefully placed his hands on her back, feeling her tense but not pull away. He gently guided her towards Yukino again. "She's ready."

Yukino stepped aside with a soft smile. "Right after you."

Lucy reluctantly left Natsu's side to enter the room, Yukino following behind her, closing the door. "Go straight until you reach the end of the lockers," she instructed. "That way no one can see you if they happen to open the door, but no one should do that."

Lucy used the light shining from the high windows so she wouldn't bump into anything. She walked until she reached the end of the lockers, hesitantly turning around to face the woman.

"So, Natsu said your name is Lucy?"

She stared at Yukino, eyes dull as she nodded.

"That's a pretty name." Yukino wanted to get her to relax before they began. "Are you from Magnolia? Or did you get caught up passing through?"

Lucy didn't move. She stared, making Yukino shift from foot to foot as she realized she was now the uncomfortable one. "That's fine. You don't have to tell me."

Yukino let out a nervous giggle as Lucy turned to look away. "I was actually passing through Magnolia when everything happened. My friends came with me. I was checking out the university. It sucks, really. I got accepted for the next semester, but I never got to go." The university, as well as most of the busy areas in Magnolia, were overrun by the undead. The hospital and shops were especially bad.

"I'm really glad Natsu found you. It's been a while since we've had a new survivor. We were starting to think there were none left."

Lucy remained silent, bringing her arms up to hug her middle.

"Was Natsu nice to you?" Yukino asked, already knowing the answer. Over the past few months her boyfriend got to know Natsu, and from what Yukino could see when they all hung out, he was a good guy.

Lucy nodded at the question, keeping her eyes away from Yukino.

"That's good." Yukino stuffed her hands into her pockets as she tried to think of something else to talk about. Her eyes flitted over Lucy, watching as the girl loosened her arms to scratch at her side.

Yukino's eyes widened when she saw the golden bracelet on her wrist. "Oh wow! I've never seen someone else with one before!"

Lucy jolted, taking a step back as Yukino held her hand out, showing off the bracelet on her wrist. It was gold, but the charms attached were mostly silver.

"I only have two of the zodiac charms. How many do you have?" she asked, seeing most of Lucy's were gold except for a few silver ones."

Lucy swallowed hard, struggling as she said, "T-ten."

"Really? That's amazing!" Yukino brought her hand back, looking over her charms. "My favorite one is this black one, Ophiuchus. It's for the Snake Charmer. Which one's your favorite?"

Lucy clenched her teeth, tears brimming her eyes. "V-Vir..."

"Virgo?" Yukino asked, confused when Lucy sobbed as she nodded.

"Y-y-yes..."

"What's wrong?"

Lucy shook her head, hand covering her bracelet. She took another step back, breathing labored and eyes searching every corner of the room she could see.

"Lucy?"

She didn't answer, lost in her own thoughts as her eyes glazed over. Yukino didn't know what to do. She hadn't exactly encountered anyone reluctant to talk.

Sighing, Yukino realized she was getting nowhere. "You don't have to say anything else, okay?"

That seemed to get Lucy's attention. She gulped, dirty hands wiping at her eyes before securing them around her body again. Lucy dropped her head to stare at the ground.

"Well, I wanted to get you relaxed before we started, but I guess we should just get to it," Yukino said, clearing her throat. "I'm going to need you to remove your clothes."

Lucy's head snapped up, her brown eyes filling with panic as she stared at Yukino. It was the last thing she did before she fled.

.

.

.

---

There will not be 'magic' in this story. Lucy's charm bracelet is just that, a bracelet.

Up next, Chapter Five: Processing

There may be some ships in this story you don't agree with. I would appreciate you keeping your opinions to yourself if that happens. As stated in Chapter One, I will not change how I write this story. The main plot is already decided.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter, and of Lucy's reactions to things. I know this was a long chapter, but hopefully it was easy to absorb all the information? I hope you like what I have in store for the next few chapters. :)

Thank you so much for your support! I appreciate every favorite, follow, and review! Special thanks to those who reviewed last time: Killkill123100, mariah. carmichael. 3, Switchlolly007, Illusions From Ink(x3), kurovox2, kurumi-x, Guest, miraskey, Tenma360Warrior, LynsieTheBraveShadowHuntress, Guest, Terra of Life, PrincessSarahDragneel, bowlalie, Tohka123, MissyPlatinum, Sam, Lenachwann, turtle3334, Guest, Ashnmarley, AgiaJorda, Celestial Anime Goddess, Lychee101, andy24amk, Faye, Kmb1216, sthokat, xXI. AM. BEASTXx, FlameDragonHime, BluePhysalis, Otaku Sophie, KitAlbert07, Sleep is for the strong, Camjamerson, HollyDragneel, lkityan, Camjamerson, NWA4LYFLOUIE(x2), FairyLover01, panda123love, Aquasilver, Guest, II Eloquence II, Guest, lishagirl, baybewes, and LovelyLovelyLove!